Violin-sound-post setter



c. H. TODD VIOLIN SOUND POS T SETTERO Sept. 4, 1923.

Filed Aug. 17. 1921 I IV VE/V r00. 2 0. I1. 7000.

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Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

CHARLES K. rom), or New nrciriuonn, WISCONSIN.

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Application filed August 17, 1921.- Seria1 No. 492876.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARnns lLToDD, acitizen of the United States, residing at New Richmond, in the countyofSaint Croix and tate of Wisconsin, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Violin- Sound-Post Setter; and I doherebydeclare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as" will enable others skilled in the art to WlllClI itappertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to a ClBVlCG adapted to perform the measuringoperationsfor and to place in position the sound posts provided betweenthe upper and lower walls ofa violin body. These sound posts whichcomprise small cylindrical members are placed after the violin body isassembled and it has been a tedious and difficult job to properly measure and place the same-in position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extremely simple deviceby which the required length of the post may be determined and by meansof which the posts may be held and quickly and easily placed inposition.

Iti's a further object of the invention to provide the devicewith aclamping means for holding the post, comprising a flexible member, bymeans of which the posts can be readily released from the clampingdevice.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom .the following description made in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which like reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout the different views, and in which Fig. 1 represents aperspective view showing the use of the device on a violin;

Fig. 2 shows the device in side elevation as used with a violin;

Fig. 3 shows the device as used to the length of the sound post;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4:"4: of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows; and V V Fig. 5 is a partial planview showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a portion of a violin bodya comprismeasure ing the strings 1, the bridge 2 and the usual curvedopenings or slots 3in the top thereof. Thesound post 4. is placed on theinside of the. violin body adjacent the bowed portion of the strings andextends from. the top to the bottom of said body, being glued orotherwiseheld permanently in position.

' said sleeves, as shown in Fig. 3.

*and' rod (ican then be introduced The device of-this inventioncomprises a handle portion 5inwhicl1 is rigidly fastened a small rod 6.This rod is bent downwardly near itsend and has a forwardly projectingportion 6 extending substantially parallel to its main body portion. Asemi-cylindrical sleeve 7 is soldered or otherwise suitably se-- curedat its fEOIIVGX SIClB to theend of the portion 6, said portion beingsecured to the sleeve at substantially its vertical central portion. Theportionfi has a hole formed transversely [therethrough adjacent thesleeve 7 and a cord or string member 8 passes through said hole and hasa knot on its end to prevent its withdrawal therethrough." The other endof the member 8 is secured to a ring 9. The device comprises a measuringpost comprisin a threaded sleeve 10 into which screws at readed shank-11 ofa head 11.

In the use of the instrument, to determine the required length of thesound post, the sleeve 10 is placed in the sleeve 7and the cord 8wrapped one or more times around through the slot 3 of the violin. Byadjusting the head. 11 until the post just fits between the top andbottom of the violin body, the exact length of post required can bedetermined.

. In placing the sound post proper into the violin body, the post 4 isplaced in-the sleeve 7 in the same manner as was the post 10, and asshown inFig. 52..v The member8 is then wrapped one or more times aroundthe post and sleeve and this member held tight by one finger engaging inring 9, as shown in Fig. 1. The post is thus rigidly and firmlysupported in the holder and can be introduced through the slot 3, asshown in Fig. 1. The post is moved to the desired position between thetop and bottom portions of the violin bodyand when placed in the desiredposition can be permanently secured. After the post has been located thering 9 is released and the handle 5 moved away when the cord Sand ring 9will be loosely drawn out of the violin body around the post withoutdisturbing the same.

7 Fig. 5 shows a convenient method of securing the cord or string used."In this form, the cord is formed with two strands 8", the loose' ends ofwhich are passed through the portion 6% of rod 6 and knotted so that itcannot be withdrawn there- The post through. The ring 9 is held. by thetwo strands by simply passing the loose ends through the bight or endloop oi? the strands thus forming a holding loop for the ring. The twostrands of the cord function just as the one strand previouslydescribed.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has provided avery simple and ellicient tool by which the sound post can be easily andquickly measured and placed in position. The device has proven veryeilicient in actual practice and been very successful in its use.

It will, oil course, be understood that various changes maybe made inthe form, details and proportions of the parts without departing fromthe scope of applicants invention,which generally stated, consists inthe matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a member extendingtherefrom and having a holding means including a flexible member at theend thereof adapted to be introduced into a violin body through theusual opening in the top thereof.

2. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a member extendingtherefrom and having a clamping means at one end including arigid memberhaving a concave surface adapted to extend longitudinally of the post,and aflexible member cooperating therewith.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, the

flexible member being attached at one endv adjacent the said rigidmember and extend ing to said handle portion and having a holding meansattached thereto at its other end.

4. A sound post placing device comprising a handle, a rod extendingtherefrom having its end portion bent into a lower plane than theportion connected to the handle, a semicylindrical sleeve secured to theend or the rod, a flexible cable secured adjacent said sleeve, and aholding means on the end or the cable.

5. A. sound post placing device comprising a handle portion, a wire rodsecured thereto and extending therefrom having its end portion parallelto but disposed in another plane iii in the portion secured to thehandle, a rigid clamping member rigidly secured to the end of the rod,and a flexible cable cured to the rod adjacent said clamping member andhaving a holding means at one end.

6. A sound post placing device comprising a handle,. a wire or rodextending longitudinally therefrom and bentat substantially a rightangle at some distance from said handle and again bent at asubstantially right angle to extend parallel tothe portion adjacent thehandle, and a clamping means on the end of said wire or rod.

7. Thestructure set forth in claim 6, said clamping means including asegment or a hollow cylinderhaving its convex surface attached to theend of the rod withthe longitudinal axis ot the segment normal. to theaxis of said rod.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, a flexible member being attachedto the end of a Wire or rod adjacent said segment and extending tothehandle portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. TODD.

